Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens State Historic Park in Canandaigua, NY celebrates the 100th anniversary of its Rose Garden this year. Part of what is now considered to be one of the best existing examples of a late Victorian garden in the United States, the Rose Garden was the first of the nine gardens at Sonnenberg
to be restored.

Explore Our Historic Sites and Museums

The Finger Lakes region features many fascinating historic sites and unique museums. Click on the names below to find out more.

The Granger Homestead Society is a not-for-profit organization. Our holdings consist of an 1816 Federal House and furnishings, one of the largest horse-drawn vehicle collections in Western New York State, five outbuildings, and twelve acres of land in Canandaigua, NY. The Granger Homestead is a three-story Federal-style wood frame structure composed of two sections: a main block with central hall plan constructed in 1816, and a north wing added in 1860. It totals about 13,000 square feet, including the basement. We offer guided tours, carriage rides, and a variety of fascinating and enriching programs and special events.

Nestled in the picturesque Finger Lakes region of New York, Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion is a New York State Historic Park offering one of the few remaining estates in the U.S. with a Queen Anne-style mansion and formal gardens. Built in 1887, Sonnenberg's 40-room Mansion offers visitors a glimpse of what life was like in the late nineteenth century. Along with 17 other structures across the 50-acre property, the estate boasts nine formal gardens representing many cultures and historic periods including 12th-century Asia, 4th-century Rome and the French Renaissance. A 20-acre arboretum of rare and exotic trees, plants and unique landscapes stretches across the grounds, while a Lord & Burnham wood-and-glass greenhouse complex of the Victorian period features varieties of orchids, succulents, tropical plants and flowers, as well as vegetables.

Just southeast of Rochester, NY, in the town of Victor, lies Ganondagan (ga•NON•da•gan), the site of a Native American community that was a flourishing, vibrant center for the Seneca people. Visit this site where thousands of Seneca lived 300 years ago, tour a full-size replica of a 17th-century Seneca Bark Longhouse, walk miles of self-guided trails, climb the mesa where a huge palisaded granary stored hundreds of thousands of bushels of corn, and learn about the destruction of Ganondagan, Town of Peace, in 1687.
One of the six nations comprising the Iroquois Confederacy, the Seneca’s democratic ideals served as an inspiration for the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, the Seneca's matriarchal society helped inspired the 1848 declaration of sentiments that eventually lead to a woman's right to vote. The Seneca people also developed one of the world's most basic and healthy cuisines using natural foods that are still popular today, as are many of the natural medicines they used to treat illnesses. From politics and the environmental movement to food and medicine, the roots of contemporary society can be traced back to this historic site right in Rochester's back yard.

The Ontario County Historical Museum is open year-round. Our museum and research library are information resources and centers of learning that engage the public in discovery of the county’s history and its relationship to western New York today and tomorrow. We offer educational programs and rotating exhibits on subjects pertaining to the origins of Western New York. Please visit our website’s calendar of events to view our current program topics.

Discover how five women changed the world! In 1848 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and four other women invited the public to the First Women's Rights Convention to discuss expanding the role of women in America. At the end of the two days, 100 people made a public commitment to work together to improve women’s quality of life. Learn why the First Women's Rights Convention was held in the Seneca Falls, join a ranger for an interpretive program, and visit all the park sites.

Founded in 1994, the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum is dedicated to the restoration, preservation, display, and flight of aircraft of the World War II and Korean War eras, as well as the recognition of all United States Military personnel for their service and sacrifice.